Met Police Will Be Asked If They Want to Be Routinely Armed — Why is This Even a Question?

With the number of attacks increasing, you’d think police would want every tool at their disposal. This is not the case across the pond apparently. Let’s hope police know what’s right and choose the right to be armed. You never know who it might save.

Thousands of police officers will be asked if they want to be routinely armed in a major survey launched on Monday.

The Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents 32,000 officers in London, will ask all members to state whether they would be willing to carry a gun of a Taser.

They will also be asked if the prospect of being armed at all times would put them off the job altogether.

Nationally the armed policing strength is being boosted by 1,500 personnel.

Ken Marsh, chairman of the association, said:

We’re not an armed force, we never have been.

But the terrorism threat in London is constant and our officers must be vigilant and be able to deal swiftly with any scenarios we face.

We are moving closer towards that by arming 600 more officers and I think it’s only fair that we ask our colleagues – who go out there on a daily basis – what they want.

– KEN MARSH, METROPOLITAN POLICE FEDERATION

…

The position of the Met and the Commissioner is clear – we are proud to maintain the tradition that police in this country are not routinely armed. The routine arming of the Metropolitan Police is not supported.

About 92% of the service is unarmed and armed policing is delivered by highly-trained specialist units. There is no plan to seek to change this.

Twice in recent years the Met has increased the number of specially-trained officers who carry Taser, and this is kept under constant review.

We always want to know what our officers think about issues that deal with their personal safety, as it is, and will always be, a huge priority for the MPS.